“I enjoy being able to care for and meet so many wonderful and interesting personalities, listening to their life stories and helping them feel safe and comfortable when they are at their journey’s end.”
That’s what inspires Tanya Willshire to support seniors living at Carinity Fairfield Grange every day.
The Personal Carer is one of the two longest-serving employees of the Townsville aged care home, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month.
“I like working at Carinity as it has always had a real sense of community since day one. It was an exciting start to an adventure for us all,” Tanya said.
“Past residents and staff’s lasting friendships made a real feeling of family, especially through the big floods and the Covid years.”
On 1 August 2016, Fairfield Grange welcomed its first residents including Shirley Hutton, who lived there for nine years.
Analie Coleridge was also one of the initial employees at the home. When she started working at Fairfield Grange, she supported just two residents who lived in the site’s specialist Memory Support Unit.
One of the Personal Carer’s “unforgettable memories” of working at Fairfield Grange was during the Townsville floods of 2019.
“Many staff members were stranded and were unable to either get to work or return home because the roads were flooded,” Analie recalls.
“I was one of only five staff members who managed to make it to work that day. We travelled by boat before walking through flooded streets, where the water was up to our hips.
“Despite the challenging conditions, we arrived safely at the home and were able to support our residents. That experience reinforced my commitment to ensuring residents received the care they needed, even during difficult circumstances.”
Hundreds of seniors have lived at Fairfield Grange since it opened a decade ago. Raymond Riley has lived at the home the longest of the current resident group, having moved in back in October 2017.
Analie has “always enjoyed listening to the diverse stories residents shared about their life experiences and achievements”, noting that these conversations “help me build understanding of residents’ unique background”.
Junna Gowley also enjoys building a strong rapport with residents, which she says, “makes my work more meaningful”.
“I am very grateful to the residents, as they have been kind and supportive towards me, which makes my work environment more enjoyable,” Junna said.
Junna began working as a kitchen hand at Fairfield Grange in September 2016 and progressed to her current role as a personal care worker two years later.
“The most fulfilling aspect of my role is providing high-quality care. It is rewarding to see that residents are able to maintain a good quality of life,” she said.
“It is a great honour to meet these individuals and to be part of the final stage of their lives, supporting them in maintaining dignity and quality of life.”
